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The Homes of George Taylor 

Signer of the Declaration of Independence 



A PAPER READ BEFORE THE 

GEORGE TAYLOR CHAPTER, DAUGHTERS OF THE 

AMERICAN REVOLUTION 

AT EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA. DECEMBER 6, 1922 

BY 

B, R FACKENTHAL, JR., Sc.D. 

OF RIEGELSVILLE, PA. 



(Reprint from Bucks County Historical Society Papers, Vol. V) 



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The Homes of George Taylor, Signer of the Declaration of 
Independence. 

Paper read before the George Taylor Chapter, Daughters of the American 
Revolution, at Easton, Pa., December 6, 1922. 

BY B. F. FACKENTHAL, JR., SC.D., OF RIEGELSVILLE, PA. 

(This paper was not read before the Bucks County Historical Society, 
but in view of the fact that it is a complement to the paper presented 
by Mr. Ely, its publication has been requested, and it seems fitting there- 
fore that it should be printed in our proceedings.) 

ON our great national holiday, last July ( 1922 ) when Mrs. 
Fackenthal entertained the members of this Chapter at 
Riegelsville, I was a privileged guest, and in an unguarded 
moment exhibited to your Regent my file of George Taylor papers, 
contained in a special drawer set aside for that purpose. Seeing 
so many papers may have led her to suppose that it was new ma- 
terial, whereas there is but little to tell about this man, whose 
memory your society has honored, that is not already known to 
most of you. There has however been very little written about 
his homes which is made the special subject of this paper. 

It is unfortunate that historians have fallen into errors in their 
accounts of this interesting man. Corrections do not always cor- 
rect, or reach the same readers. This is true not only of the life 
and services of George Taylor, but of many items of other his- 
tory as well. 

The story that George Taylor was a redemptioner ; that he 
came to America "with his parents" from Ireland in 1736, and first 
settled at Durham Furnace, where he was a furnace filler ; that he 
was the son of Nathaniel Taylor of the Irish settlement in North- 
amption County ; that he came to America with his father and a 
younger brother ; and such like statements, are made by all his 
biographers. Just where these false and misleading statements 
originated have not been determined. They are doubtless all based 
on Sanderson's Lives of the Signers, first published in 1823-27, 
and revised by Henry D. Gilpin. Esq., (b. 1801, d. 1859), a promi- 
nent Philadelphia lawyer, who in 1840. was Attorney General of 
the United States. The same erroneous accounts are contained in 
the Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, by 




GEORGE TAYLOR'S BOOKPLATE. 

Coat of Arms of the ancient Taylor family of 
Durant Hall, Derbyshire, England. (The heiress 
married Sir Charles Skyrmsher, Knight Templar 
Charles 2nd.) 

Arms : Ermine on a chevron gules between 
three anchors, as many escallops argent. 

Crest : A Stork resting the dexter foot on 
an anchor proper. 



HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR D 

Rev. Charles H. Goodrich, New York, 1829; A Compendious 
History of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1831, 
by Dr. Nathaniel Dwight ; Biographies of the Sigiiers of the Dechi- 
ration of hidependence, by L. Carrel Judson, Philadelphia, 1839; 
Lives of tJie Signers of the Declaration of Independedncc, by Ben- 
son J. Lossing, 1848; Henry's History of tJie Lehigh Valley, 
Easton, 1860; and in Condit's History of Easton, 1885. County 
and State histories, biographical dictionaries and encyclopaedias 
repeat the same story, and local historians naturally follow along 
the same lines, and all ; ;;/(';- alia, say that he was born in Ireland. 

Newly discovered evidence, however, points to England as his 
birthplace, and the Taylor family tradition that he came from 
Ireland, may be wrong. This is confirmed by his bookplate 
which throws a flood of light on his ancestry. It contains the 
coat of arms of the Taylors of Durant. the ancient Taylor family 
of Derbyshire, England. One of his bookplates has been pre- 
sented to me by the American Antiquarian Society of Worcester, 
Mass., from which the engraving shown herewith has been made. 
As can be seen it contains his autograph signature, and the date 
1778. The American Antiquarian Society has another copy of 
this bookplate, with his signature bearing date 1776. A third 
bookplate (of which a photostat has been sent me), bearing date 
1776, is in the unique collection of signers autographs owned 
by Mr. Kenyon Y. Painter of Cleveland, Ohio. In the appraise- 
ment of Geo. Taylor's estate there were 79 books, all of which 
doubtless contained his bookplate. It is not likely that George 
Taylor would have used this bookplate if not entitled to do so, 
and further suggests that he may have been in touch with the 
English family of Taylors and most likely a kinsman. 

I remember in 1898 sending a signed communication to an 
Easton newspaper, in which I took exception to certain state- 
ments made by a prominent historian of Easton in his lecture on 
the life of George Taylor. He had repeated the erroneous state- 
ments to which I have referred, and moreover placed special 
emphasis on a statement that George Taylor was guarding the 
x\tlantic coast during the Revolutionary War. He read copies of 
several letters signed by a George Taylor, written from Free- 
hold and Shrewsbury in New Jersey, to justify himself. 
It was later shown that those letters had not been written bv our 



b HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 

George Taylor, bvit by another of that name. This is more 
clearly pointed out by Mr. Simon Gratz, in his delightful Book 
about Autographs } Mr. Gratz shows that one of the letters, to 
which I have referred, published in the Pennsylvania Archives- 
and the other one formerly in possession of Mr. L. C. Cist of St. 
Louis, are not by our George Taylor. In like manner a docu- 
ment in the manuscript department of the Pennsylvania Historical 
Society at Philadelphia, dated February 3, 1763, and a letter in 
the Congressional Library at Washington, are not genuine. The 
one at Washington bears date 1793, whereas our George Taylor 
passed away in 1781. I have examined many autograph letters 
and documents containing the signature of George Taylor, includ- 
ing copies of those contained in the twenty-two complete sets of 
autographs of the signers, as detailed by Mr. Charles F. Jenkins 
in his splendid article published in the Pennsylvania Magazine of 
History, Vol. 49, p. 231, and have never seen a signature of George 
Taylor where he writes his name out in full, but always Geo. 
Taylor.^ 




We have to thank the late Gov. Samuel W. Pennypacker for 
aiding us in the most incidental way, in obtaining a correct his- 
tory of George Taylor during the early years of his life in 
America. It is said of Mr. Pennypacker that he had made an 
arrangement with the employees of a certain papermill, using old 
paper, by which they laid aside for his inspection all old books 
and documents published prior to a certain date, 1820 I think ,and 
in that way he secured many books and papers that were scarce 
and of historic value. On one occasion, not many years prior to 
his death, he stopped a cart passing through the streets of Potts- 
town, Pa., loaded with old junk, which on examination was found 
to contain among other old paper, the Potts books and papers on 
their way to the scrap heap. He purchased the load and thus 
secured 110 ledgers and other account books of early forges and 

1 A Book About Autogra2)hs bv Mr. Simon Gratz, p. 249; Campbell, Phila- 
delphia, 1920. 

2 Pennsylvania Archives, First Series, Vol. V, p. 49. The original of this 
letter is now In the possession of Haverford College. 

M Under date of July 4, 1926, Mr. Jenkins revised his list and now reports 
having located 27 complete sets of signer's autographs. 



HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR / 

blast furnaces, including Coventry, Pine, Mount Pleasant, Pbol, 
Valley and Pottsgrove forges and Colebrookdale, Christine, Red- 
ding and Warwick blast furnaces. Colebrookdale was the very 
first blast furnace in Pennsylvania, built in 1720, which was 
seven years before Durham blast furnace was built. The Govern- 
or had these books bound, indexed and annotated. 1 had the 
pleasure of looking through them in his library at Schwenksville. 
At the sale of his library, by his executors, these old ledgers were 
bought by the Pennsylvania Historical Society, where they may 
be consulted by any one interested. 

When Dr. Henry C. Mercer was preparing his book on fire- 
backs and stoveplates for publication, called The Bible in Iron, 
published in 1914, Mr. Warren S. Ely went, over to Schwenks- 
ville to search through these Potts books for stoveplate-informa- 
tion, as firebacks and stoveplates were cast at Colebrookdale, 
Christine ; Redding and Warwick furnaces at an early day. Mr. 
Ely spent some days in his researches and was surprised to find 
that George Taylor had for many years been connected with 
Coventry Forge and Warwick Furnace, and that it was there, in 
Chester County, on French Creek, and not at Durham Furnace 
that he established himself in 1736, on his arrival in America. 
Mr. Ely has given us the benefit of this new George Taylor in- 
formation in his splendid paper read before the Bucks County 
Historical Society in 1918. (See ante, page 101.) The Potts 
books show that George Taylor began his metallurgical career as 
bookkeeper at those works ; that he was promoted to the position 
of manager, and on the death of Samuel Savage, Jr., early in 
1742, married, before the close of the same year, his widow, 
whose maiden name was Ann Taylor, daughter of Isaac Taylor. 
Deputy Surveyor General of Chester County. He then assumed 
control of his wife's business and settled the estate of Mr. Savage. 

The Historical Society at Doylestown has lately come into 
possession of two documents in the handwriting of George Tay- 
lor, both bearing his signature. One dated 1739. is an invoice 
to Hon. Thomas Penn for pig iron shipped, presumably from 
Warwick Furnace, to Clement Plumstead, the other dated 1741, 
in an agreement with an inventory of teams, wagons and other 
personal property at Warwick Furnace, when a one-half interest 
thereof was about to be leased to John Potts. I take pleasure in 






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INVOICE FOR PIG IRON, NOVEMBER 6-22, 1739. 
In the handwriting of George Taylor, with his signature as clerk for 
Anna Nutt & Co., at Warwick Furnace. The earliest known signature of 
George Taylor. Original in Library of Bucks County Historical Society. 



HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR y 

presenting this Chapter with photostats of these two documents. 
In 1752. when Samuel Savage, the third (son of Samuel Sav- 
age, jr., deceased), came of age no time was lost in serving writ- 
ten notice on George I'aylor, asking him to resign the manage- 
ment of Coventry Forge. About that time Mrs. Taylor's tenure 
of, and interest in the Warwick Furnace terminated, although she 
held a life interest in tlie two farms. The Taylors continued to 
reside in Chester County until 1754 or 1755, when George Taylor 
and Samuel Flower formed a co-partnership and leased the Dur- 
ham Iron Works in Durham Township, I'ucks County, Pa., for 
a period of five years, with the privilege of five additional vears. 
The George Taylors then moved to Durham. During this lease- 
hold they made "cannon shot" at Durham, presumably for the 
Provincial Government during the French and Indian War.^ 
There is much documentary evidence to show Taylor's residence 
in Durham, such as his appointment on a jury to review a road, 
his commission as a justice of the peace in 1757 and again in 
1761 and 1763, as well as his letters written from there. His 
home was in the so-called "Mansion House," on the Durham 
Road about one-fourth mile west of the site of the 1727 blast 
furnace. It is said that the original house was destroyed by fire, 
and the new stone house, still standing, was built on the old foun- 
dations. The Galloway heirs later sold the farm on which the 
house was located to the Longs. After the death of Richard 
Backhouse in 1795, his son James converted this Mansion House 
into a hotel, for which he was first granted a license in 1798. It 
had always been the polling place for Durham Township, but 
when abandoned as a public house in 1871. a special election was 
held on June 21st of that year, when it was decided to remove the 
polling place to the village of Monroe. It was in that old house, in 
Durham Township, during his second leasehold of Durham fur- 
nace, that George Taylor made his home for a second time, when 
he signed the Declaration of Independence. It is likely that a 
monument will be erected to mark the site, and also one to mark 
the site of the old Durham blast furnace built in 1727, now the 
property of Harvey F. Riegel. An old stone arch of this furnace 
can still be seen surrounded by a growth of trees. Occasionally 

4 See Buck.s County Court llecords, September Term. 1765. 



10 HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 

cannon balls and shot are found on property adjacent to the old 
furnace-site. There are quite a number of cannon balls and shot 
now in the museum of the Bucks County Historical Society, 
that were cast at Durham. 

During the latter part of 1763, at the expiration of his ten years 
lease of Durham Iron Works, George Taylor, with his family, 
moved to Easton doubtless making his home in the stone house 
at the northeast corner of Northampton and Fermer (now Sec- 
ond) Streets, which he bovight at sherifif's sale December 23, 1761, 
as the property of Jacob Bachman."' This was Lot No. 24, on the 
original plan of Easton, size 60 feet on Northampton and 220 
feet on Second Streets. The stone house now standing on that 
corner is doubtless the same house that was occupied by George 
Taylor. The deed is not recorded, nor was it acknowledged in the 
prothonotary's office. The price paid, £117, 15s, lOd.. indicates that 
the property was improved when he bought it. There is no ex- 
planation as to the use he made of that property from the time 
he bought it in 1761 vmtil he moved into it in 1763. W^hile living 
there he also obtained possession of Lot No. 7Z on the opposite 
or northwest corner of the same streets, size 55 feet by 220 feet, 
whereon he built a stone stable. It appears that this lot had not 
been patented, and Taylor occupied it by permission of the Penns. 
It was on that corner, where in after years, the home of Alexander 
Wilson was located. On August 24, 1779, George Taylor sold 
Lot No. 24 to Theophilus Shannon for the sum of £1,300 Penn- 
sylvania money (currency was then depreciated), and at the same 
time he sold his interest in Lot No. 7Z, with stone stable to the 
same party for the sum of £100 Pennsylvania money. In the 
deeds transferring these properties he describes himself as living 
in Greenwich Township, Sussex (now Warren) County, New 
Jersey. (Deed Book D, Vol. I, pp. 179 and 180.) 

After moving to Easton he at once took an active part in 
public afifairs, showing that he must have been a prominent and 
influential citizen. He took a leading part in building the new 
courthouse, all moneys for which, it is said, passed through his 
hands. He was a member of the Provincial Assembly from 1764 
to 1769 inclusive. He was commissioned a Justice of the Peace 

5 Lot No. 24 was patented to Jacob Bachman March 14, 1754, Patent book 
A, Vol. 18, p. 236. Bachman mortgaged it to John Potts November 27, 1754. 
The mortgage was foreclosed and the property bought by Geo. Taylor. 



HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 11 

for Northampton County in 1764 and regularly thereafter until 
1772. 

On March 10, 1767, he hought a tract of vVSl acres of land, 
fronting on the Lehigh River, in Allen Township, at which is now 
Lower Catasauqua, Lehigh County, heing part of a larger 
tract known as the "Manor of Chawton." (Deed book 15. Vol. I, 
p. 102, etc. ) On this property there had been built a substantial 
stone house with walls two feet thick which is still standing in 
a fairly good state of preservation. He sold this Allen Township 
property to John Benezet. the deed bears date March 27, 1776. 
It appears, however, that he moved to Durham prior to that time, 
probably in 1774, when he leased the Durham property from 
Joseph Galloway. During the year 1772 some of his letters were 
w'ritten from Northampton (the name of which was changed to 
Allentown on April 16, 1838). This suggests that he may, at 
that time, have been living with his son James, who moved there 
early in 1772. An autograph letter, signed by him, dated De- 
cember 30, 1775, now in possession of Haverford College, fixes 
his residence in Durham at that time. Just what his object was 
in moving to Allen Township does not appear, there were doubt- 
less no iron works in that neighborhood, and therefore it is likely 
that he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and besides he had 
his public business to attend to. A photograph of his Catasauqua 
home, which I presented to this chapter several years ago, hangs 
on yonder wall, and an etching of it is shown herewith. In 1912, 
when I visited that house, there were a number of firebacks 
in the fireplaces. One of them had been presented to the 
Lehigh County Historical Society, which suggests that one might 
be secured for this room. These plates contain no embellish- 
ments other than the initials and date "G. T. 1768." I had one 
of them drilled for chemical analysis and found the phosphorus 
and manganese to be about five times too high for it to have been 
made from Durham ores, and concluded that they were cast at 
some other blast furnace.'' 

On September 17, 1765, George Taylor bought of Peter Kich- 
line, Sherifif, as the property of Nicholas Scull. Easton Lot No. 167, 
55 feet front on Northampton street, on which Scull had l)uilt a 
stone house. (Deed book R, Vol. I, p. 42. ) That property is now 

fi Analysis of flreback : Silicon 1.00, phosphorus .54, manganese .56, sul- 
phur .067, copper none. 




GEORGE TAYLOR HOUSP: AT LOWER CATASAUQUA, LEHIGH COUNTY, PA. 
(Prior to 1S12, Allen Township, Northampton County.) 

On March 10, 1767, George Taylor purchased from Thomas Armstrong, 331 acres of 
land on the Lehigh River in Allen Townshiii, part of a larger tract known as the "Manor 
of Chawton," on which this substantial stone house had been built. Mrs. Taylor passed 
away in this house in 1768. On March 27, 1776, George Taylor conveyed the property to 
John Benezet of Philadelphia, but prior to that time he moved to Durham in Bucks County, 
probably in 1774, when for a second time he leased the Durham Iron Works, where he was 
living on August 2, 1776, when he signed the Declaration of Independence. 



HOMES OF C.EORGE TAYLOR 13 

owned by the estates of Mary Moyer. C. L. Magee and Jacob 
Hay. and is occupied by the United Retail Chemists and the F. 
& W. Grand 5, 10. and 25 Cent Store. George Taylor bought 
that house for his son James to whom he and his wife, xA.nn Tay- 
lor, conveyed it October 25. 1765. for the consideration of 5 
shillings and "their natural love and aifection." ( Deed book B, 
Vol. I, p. 51. and another corrected deed for same property re- 
corded Deed book C. Vol. I, p. 17.) 

Later James Taylor moved to Allentown. and while living 
there he and his wife Elizabeth conveyed his Easton property. 
December 30, 1771, to Myer Hart of Easton. (Deed book C. 
Vol. I. p. 18.) On January 2. 1772. James Taylor bought from 
Myer Hart, lot No. 342 of the plan of Allentown. (Deed book 
C, Vol. I, p. 57.) They may possibly have exchanged properties. 

After the death of James Taylor in 1775. his Allentown prop- 
erty was sold by the sheriff, on June 19. 1776, and bought by 
Phillip Ritter. (Deed book C. Vol. I. p. 387.) It appears that 
George Taylor was freciuently called upon, to give financial aid 
to his son James. 

On May 21, 1763, George Taylor bought certain rights of 
Philip Rustein, in Lot No. 502 on James Street in Allentown. 
(Deed book A, Vol. I, p. 295) on which a house had been built. 
I can find no record to show how Taylor disposed of that property. 

Ann. wife of George Taylor, died in 1768, shortly after they 
moved into their Catasauqua house. It is not known where her 
body lies buried, but there is evidence to show that George Tay- 
lor, while living in Durham, was connected with the Red Hill 
Presbyterian Church. This is further shown by the fact that on 
March 8, 1765, a lot of one acre of land (size 10 perches by 16 
perches) at Gallows Hill, on the Durham Road in Bucks County, 
was deeded to Rev. Richard Treat and George Taylor, in trust 
for that congregation, for a burying ground, and Mrs. Taylor 
may have been buried there. (See Bucks County Deed book, 
Vol. XX, p. 235.) Some historians theorize that she was buried 
at Easton. Some graves found near the Taylor house at Catasau- 
qua make it not unlikely that she was buried there. George and 
Ann Taylor had two children, Ann. called Nancy, who died in 
childhood, and James, who was born at Warwick Furnace in 
1746. James married Elizabeth, daughter of Lewis Gordon, who 



14 HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 

was the first resident lawyer to practice at Easton. Col. McCabe 
of Richmond, Va., writes that James and Elizabeth were mere 
children when they married. Elizabeth was born August 23, 
1750, and was therefore but 25 years old when James died Octo- 
ber 9, 1775, at the age of 29 years. After his death their five 
small children, George, Ann. Mary, Thomas and James, Jr., were 
cared for by their grandfather, George Taylor. Elizabeth, widow 
of James, on July 18, 1780, deeded to George Taylor, for the care 
and education of her children, the one-half of her interest in the 
real estate which she inherited under the will of her father, 
Lewis Gordon, which included Easton Lot No. 171, (size 56 
feet by 220 feet) on which Abie's Opera House now stands. 
(Deed book C, Vol. I, p. 545.)''"^ Of the five children of James 
and Elizabeth, Ann married Samuel Swann and moved to Pow- 
hatton, Virginia, taking with her, and making a home for her two 
brothers, George (who did not marry), and James, Jr.; Mary 
died young; Thomas was drowned in the Lehigh River; James, 
Jr., married his first cousin. Anna Maria Miranda Gordon, at 
Alexandria, Va., Dec. 19, 1786. He died at Richmond, Va., in 
1837. They were the parents of four children, one of whom, 
Sophia Gordon Taylor, married, first, to John Rutledge Smith, 
and second, to the Rev. John Collins McCabe. D.D., of the Episco- 
pal Church, who were the parents of Col. W. Gordon McCabe, 
Litt.D., LL.D., and who was therefore a great-great-grandson of 
George Taylor. Col. McCabe says that George Taylor has many 
legitimate descendants living in Virginia. 

I have corresponded with Col. McCabe for many years and 
had the pleasure of visiting him in his home at Richmond, and 
from him obtained much history of his distinguished ancestor. 
As can be seen by his will, George Taylor left a family of five 
natural children, whose mother was his housekeeper, Naomi 
Smith. Some of their descendants added the family name of 
Savage, as a middle name, with the intention of representing that 
they were legitimate descendants of George Taylor, much to the 
annoyance of Col. McCabe and other legitimate descendants. 

George Taylor obtained his military title of Colonel on July 21, 
1775, when at a meeting held at Bogart's tavern in Bucks County, 

6a This deed recites that Elizabeth Is about to depart from her usual place 
of abode. 



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OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
As taken by George Taylor, February 3, 1778. 
The "Test Oath," required by an Act of Congress passed in 1777. 



16 HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 

he was elected Colonel of the Third Battalion of MilitiaJ Pre- 
vious to that time he was enrolled as an "Associator." During 
the year 1777, an act was passed called the "Test Act." under 
which it was required that every man should take an oath of 
allegiance to the Government of the United States. Such as signed 
the test oath were called "Associators," and such as did not sign 
were called "Non-Associators." Col. George Taylor took this 
test oath on Febri;ary 3, 1778. the original document has been pre- 
served, and a photostatic copy sent to me by Hon. James B. Laux, 
of New York, in order that I might have the etching made of it 
which accompanies this paper. There is no record to show that 
Col. Taylor was ever engaged in active military service, he was too 
much occupied making ammunition at Durham, and in other pur- 
suits in the interest of our new government. 

GEORGE TAYLOR LEASES DURHAM IRON WORKS FOR FIVE YEARS, 
FROM NOVEMBER 1 7/3, WITH THE PRIVILEGE OF AN 
ADDITIONAL FIVE YEARS. 

Although there is evidence to show an earlier iron operation at 
Durham, the organized company which built the blast furnace of 
1727, dates from 1726. The company was composed of twelve 
prominent gentlemen, all from Philadelphia, except Jeremiah 
Langhorne, who was from Trevose in Bucks County.^ When 
the property was partitioned among the owners, deed dated De- 
cember 24, 1773, (all the original owners having passed away), it 
included all of Durham Township (6,410 acres 123 perches) 644 
acres in Springfield Township, 30 acres in Lower Saucon Town- 
ship and 1,456 acres 29 perches in \\'illiams Township, the last two 
townships in Northampton County, 8.511 acres 100 perches in all. 

In the partition proceedings, that part of the property contain- 
ing the mines, quarries, forges and blast furnace was allotted to 
Joseph Galloway and his wife Grace, »rr Growden. It appears 
however, by the petition addressed by George Taylor to the Su- 
preme Executive Council on July 22. 1778, that he had leased the 
plant from Joseph Galloway prior to the deed of partition, viz, 
during November 1773 for five years, with the privilege of "hav- 

7 American Archives, Vol. II, p. 1787; Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, 
Vol. VIII, p. 14. 

s The twelve gentlemen forming- the original Durham Iron Company were 
Jeremiah Langhorne, Anthony Morris, James Logan, Charles Read, Robert 
Ellis, George Fitzwater, Clement Plumsted, William Allen, Andrew Bradford, 
John Hopkins, Thomas Lindley and Joseph Turner. 



HOMES OF GEORGE TA^■LOK 17 

ing it renewed upon the same terms, for five years more." 
I need not speak of the loyal services of this patriot 
during the Revolutionary struggle, that are so well known to all of 
you. but you may not know that George Taylor was the very 
first in Pennsylvania to make shot and shells for the Continental 
Army. This is clearly shown by his correspondence and bv docu- 
ments published in the Colonial Records.'' The first shipment of 
which we have a record, was made August 25. 1775. and con- 
sisted of round shot, viz: 250 of 18 lbs., 4 of 25 lbs. and 4 of 
v32 lbs. There is much evidence to show that George Taylor was 
living at Durham, and engaged in making shot and shell for the 
Continental Army from 1775 to 1778 inclusive. 

The following letter, in possession of Col. McCabe's family, 
addressed to Col. George Taylor at Durham by Clement Biddle, 
is not only interesting from an historical standpoint, but also 
fixes the residence of George Taylor at Durham on July 4, 1776, 
where his home was on xA.ugust 2, 1776, when he signed the 
Declaration of Independence : 

T^ e- Philadelphia, Tulv 4, 1776. 

Dear Sire: 

I have yours of 3d inst., and am glad of your forwardness with the 
Shott — pray send all of them down as soon as possible — we don't know 
what hour we may want them — the things ordered shall be prepared 
also provided I can get the Salt. 

Genl. Howe's army are with the fleet of 130 sail at Sandy Hook 
we hourly expect to hear of some important stroke there — we have 
about 10,000 Effective men at N. York — 6,000 militia coming from Conn- 
ecticut — 3 to 4,000 marched from Jersey toward Amboy — Col. Broad- 
head's Rifle men and others of our troops marching to the Jerseys 
to join them — a few tories are in arms in Monmouth County — Jersey. 

At Charleston, So. Carolina, Genl. Clinton had got one man of war 

and 30 transports over the bar but lost a 50 gun ship in attempting to 

get over. Genl. Lee had arrived with 1,300 Troops from No. Carolina 

to join their Provincial Troops and it said that Charles Town is well 

fortified. It thickens around us and the day is big with the fate of 

America but I trust that we shall be able by union and perseverence to 

establish that freedom and Independence which Congress have just 

declared nem con. t i-v c- \- ui i c 

I am Dr Sir \r Hble. Servt 

CLEMENT BIDDLE. 
The three pound shot are so much wanted that I am directed to de- 
sire you immediately to send them down bj' all means. 
Addressed to 

Col. George Taylor, 
Durham. 

9 Colonial Records, First Series, Vol. X, pp. 297-298-315-331-339-354-365- 
373-381-382-598-690. 



18 HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 

During George Taylor's leasehold of Durham it appears that a 
great part of his pig iron was refined at the Greenwich and Chel- 
sea Forges in Greenwich Township, Sussex ( now Warren ) County, 
New Jersey, and that his friend, Richard Backhouse, was asso- 
ciated with him, at least for part of the time, in these refining 
operations. In two deeds recorded here at Easton. dated August 
24, 1779, George Taylor is described as living in Greenwich 
Township, New Jersey, doubtless at Greenwich Forge, on Mus- 
conetcong Creek, about five miles from the site of the old Dur- 
ham Furnace.^" I am sure the New Jersey members of this Chap- 
ter are pleased to know that he once lived within the borders of 
their state. 

GEORGE TAYLOR PURCHASES ONE-FOURTH INTEREST IN 
DURHAM IRON WORKS. 

When Joseph Galloway allied himself to the British cause, he 
was in 1778, attainted of treason. His large holdings of land in 
Pennsylvania, which in addition to Durham, Trevose, Belmont 
and elsewhere, including also the now celebrated Hog Island, were 
seized and sold by the Commissioner of Forfeitied Estates. An at- 
tempt was then made to dispossess George Taylor of Durham,- 
but the Supreme Executive Council decided that he might remain 
in possession until the first period of his lease had expired. 
George Taylor was himself a member of the very first Supreme 
Executive Council, which met daily in Philadelphia.^^ He did 
not miss a single meeting from the date of its organization, 
March 4, 1777, until prevented from attending by sickness. 

The following is copy of a letter in the archives of the Penn- 
sylvania Historical Society at Philadelphia : 

c- Durham, May 24, 1777. 

Sir — 

I have been confined to my chamber for four weeks past by a violent 
fever. I am just now beginning to walk about. You will please let 
his Excellency the President know that as soon as my health will per- 
mit I will attend the Council 

I am with great Respect &c. 
To Timothy Matlack, Esqr. Sir, Your Most Humbl' Servt. 

Geo. Taylor. 

The Journal of the Moravian Society at Bethlehem, under date 

10 Northampton County, Deed Book D, Vol. I, pp. 179 and 180. 

II Colonial Records, First Series, Vol. XI, p. 173. 



HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 19 

of July 10-11. 1776, states that there were elected five Germans 
and three Irish farmers as delegates; these delegates appointed 
the memher of Congress, who in this instance was George Taylor. 
In the Pciiiisylz'ania Magacinc of History, Vol. IX, p. 279, James 
Allen, a son of C. J. William Allen, says in his diary, under date 
of P'ebruary 17, 1777: 

The Assembly have appointed Gen. Roberdeau, J. B. Smith, William 
Moore & reappointed R. Morris & Dr. Franklin Delegates in Congress 
& left out G. Clynier, J. Wilson, J. Smith, G. Ross, Dr. Rush, G. Tay- 
lor & J. Morton. The reason for leaving out so many old members, it 
is said, is that the new light Presbyterian Party have the ascendant in 
Assembly. The seven retiring members had all signed the Declaration 
of Independence. 

On July 22, 1777. Clymer was reappointed in the place of 
William Moore, who had declined to serve, and James Wilson 
was added to the delegation. The retiring of George Taylor as 
a delegate to Congress, may have been the reason for his retiring 
from the Supreme Executive Council, and not attending any 
meetings after the above letter was written. 

In 1779 the Commissioners of Forfeited Estates sold Gallo- 
way's right in the Durham plant and real estate at public sale. 
It was bought by four men, all colonels. Col. Richard Backhouse, 
Col. George Taylor, Col. Isaac Sidman, of Easton, and Col. 
Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr., who were equal partners. Most of the 
account books of that administration fell into my hands and are 
now in the library of the Bucks County Historical Society at 
Doylestown. These original and authentic records, as well as the 
public records contained in the Pennsylvania Archives, show 
that shot and shells were made at Durham continuously, in large 
quantities, throughout the entire period of the Revolutionary W'ar. 

The management of the Durham works, during this adminis- 
tration, devolved upon Col. I)ackhouse. who was the ruling spirit 
in that enterprise. He moved to Durham March 1, 1780, oc- 
cupying the Mansion House heretofore referred to. At the 
termination of his five year lease of Durham Inirnace in 1779. 
George Taylor was dispossessed by the Commissioner of For- 
feited Estates, and then moved to Greenwich Township. New 
Jersey, where he was operating the Greenwich Forge, owned by 
Col. Hugh Hughs. He resided there until April. 1780, when he 
moved to Easton. This is shown by his letter to Col. Backhouse, 




PARSONS-TAYLOR HOUSE, EASTON, PA. 

The oldest house in Easton. Pa. Built by William Parsons, the founder 
of Easton, sometime between 1753 and 1757, and first occupied by him April, 
1757. Later the home of Georg'e Taylor, one of the signers of the Declara- 
tion of Indeiiendence, who leased the house and ijremises from the Estate of 
John Huglies, and moved there from Greenwich Forge, X. J., about April 
10, 1780, and wherein he died February 23, 1781. At that time the property 
included all of Lot Xo, 176 on tlie original t-lan of Easton. 60 feet on Hamil- 
ton (now Fourth) Street, and 220 feet on Ferry Street. The old engravings 
show that there were kitchen and other out buildings attached to the stone 
house, the size of which is 27 feet front on Ferry Street, and 17 feet 9 inches 
front on Fourth Street. That jiart of the projjerty on which the house stands 
21 feet by 27 feet, was purchased January 15, 1906, by the George Taylor 
Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, which has placed a bronze 
tablet on the Fourth Street side, with the following inscription : — 



THIS HOUSE BUILT IN 1757 BY 

WILLIAM PARSONS 

SURVEYOR GENERAL OF PENNSYLVANIA 
AND THE HOME OF 

GEORGE TAYLOR 

SIGNER OF 

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 

IS MAINTAINED BY THE 

GEORGE TAYLOR CHAPTER 

DAUGHTERS OF THE 

AMERICAN REVOLUTION 

AS AN HISTORICAL MEMORIAL 

1906 



HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 21 

dated April 9, 1780, the original of which is in the New York 
State Library at Albany, and of which the following is a copy : 

Greenwich 9th April 1780 
Dear bir 

I proposed coming over to Day but have a Bad Cold & the weather 

unfavorable must Defer it until I move when Colo Hooper & I will 

spend a Day with you — If you can spare a Gallon of Rum please to 

send it by Tomm I expect some Waggons to morrow to Carry a part 

of my Family if you want the half Dozn Chairs I shall Leave them 

here for you I would have sent them by Snyder but was afraid they 

might be hurt amongst the Iron & other things in his waggon 

I am Dear Sir 

To Richard Backhouse Yr. Huble Scrvt 

Durham Geo. Taylor 

At Easton he made his home in this building where we are 
assembled this afternoon. He occupied the house under lease 
from the estate of John Hughes, Jr. L was built by William 
Parsons in 1753-54, and is said to be the oldest house in Easton, 
and wherein Parsons died December 22, 1757. The lot, at that 
time (No. 176 on the original plan of Easton) was 60 feet 
fronting on Hamilton ( now Eourth ) Street by 220 feet 
on Ferry Street. The old engravings show that there was a 
frame attachment to the stone house at that time. I will take 
pleasiu'e in presenting one of these old etchings to this Society. 
Letters written by Geo. Taylor from Easton show that he kept a 
horse and two cows. It is therefore likely that his stables were also 
on that lot. There were doubtless also (piarters for his slaves. 
for while living here he kept two slaves, which under the la\v for 
gradual abolition of slavery in Pennsylvania, passed March 1, 
1780, he was obliged to register in the office of the Clerk of Ses- 
sions here at Easston. (See letter from George 'l^aylor to Robert 
Levers, published in Henry's History of the LeJiigh Valley, p. 97. 
This letter is now in possession of the Pennsylvania Historical 
Society.) 

At the sale of his personal effects, by his executors, negro Tom 
32 years old. sold for 280 bushels of wheat, valued at £77 or 
about $205. and Sam, also 32 years, a cripple, fetched but £15 
or about $40. The inventory of his estate included four wigs, ap- 
praised at il, but which "Air. Levers thought improper to ex- 
pose to sale." 

It was here in this hcnisc. where we are assembled today, that 



22 HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 

Col. Taylor passed away February 23, 1781, having lived here 
less than eleven months. This and the house at the northeast 
corner of Northampton and Second Streets, heretofore referred 
to, are the only houses in Easton wherein George Taylor re- 
sided. The original records of St. John's Lutheran Church, 
across the way, record the date of his death, and also 
the date of the passing of his son, James. These records would 
be conclusive evidence in any court of law, and should set at rest 
the date of Col. Taylor's death, for most historians say it was 
on February 25. Col. Taylor's will, dated January 6, 1781, is 
recorded here at Easton (Book I, p. 275), but the original docu- 
ment long since disappeared from the Recorder's office, and is 
now in the Archives of the New York Public Library, which 
has kindly made for me this photostat of it, which I now 
take pleasure in presenting to your Society. (An etching of the 
last part of Geo. Taylor's will with his signature and signatures 
of the three witnesses is shown herewith.) He appointed his 
three friends, Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr., Robert Traill and Robert 
Levers, as his executors. He gave to each of them a keepsake in 
the following words : 

"Unto the said Robert Levers my silver mounted double barrel gun, 
to be engraved thus — The Gift of George Taylor, Esquire, and I like- 
wise give and bequeath unto Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr., a neat silver 
mounted small sword, to be engraved thus — In Memory of George 
Ta3dor, Esquire, and unto the said Robert Traill I do give and be- 
queath one pair of pistols."'- 

Col. Hooper did not qualify as an executor, although his name 
appears as such in an advertisement, for settlement of the estate, 
which they inserted in the Pouisyk'aiiia Gaccfte and Weekly Ad- 
vertiser, for March 12, and April 4, 1781. Robert Levers 
died May 1788, leaving Robert Traill as the sole executor when 
the accounts were filed and audited in 1799, eighteen years 
after Col. Taylor's death. The settlement of his partnership 
accounts at Durham Iron Works were long drawai out, and on 
final settlement of his estate it was found to be insolvent. ^^ 

12 These beautiful flint lock i^istols are now owned by Dr. K. M. Green, of 
Easton, a great-grandson of Robert Traill, who has kindly allowed me to 
photograph them to use as a tail piece to this paper. 

13 Henry's History of the Leliigh Valley, p. 97, and the report of auditors 
on file in the courthouse at E)aston. 



^^^^^U. fJ L -Co /To- //; ^r" cry^aUyy^ c/c^r-^i/: i-i^^ 



^{ L-y-K, Cc\J<: <X 



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^^^zi^fch' 







("LOWIXa PARAGRAPH OF (iKOPtCJE TAYI.ORS WILL, FULL SIZE, 

])ated January (!. ITSl. with his signature and signatvires of witnesses. 

(Geoi-ge Taylor died at lOaston. Februai-\- 1'3. 1781.) 




HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 



23 



COL. ROBERT LETTIS HOOPER, JR. 




Col. Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr., was a man of more than ordi- 
nary parts. During the Revolutionary War he at first lived in 
Lower Saucon Township,^'* but later, while filling the office of 
Deputy Quarter Master General, he lived in Easton, making his 
home in the stone house, still standing, at the northwest corner 
of Northampton and Fifth Streets. His first wife died while 
living in that house. You have, of course, noticed the exterior 
steps leading to the second story, as shown by the etching below. 




HOME OF ROBERT LETTIS HOOPER, JR. 
EASTON, PA. 

Col. Hooper died at "Belleville,"' Trenton, N. J., July 30. 1797, 
in the sixty-sixth year of his age. In his will he beqvieathed to 
the Trenton Lodge of x\ncient Free & Accepted Masons, (char- 
tered 1787) of which he was a member, "my silver hilted sword 
now in their possession, in testimony of the esteem and affection 
I bear the fraternity of that lodge in particular, and that the said 

14 See his letter i^ublished in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History, Vol. 
XXIV, p. 391, wherein he says his home is in Saucon, five miles south of 
Bethlehem. 



24 HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 

sword be new mounted by my executors and paid for out of my 
estate." This is doubtless the sword bequeathed to him by 
George Taylor, but the lodge has no record of it. Mrs. Hooper 
died in 1?86. 

Many letters written by Col. Hooper fell into my hands, most 
of which I gave to the Bucks County Historical Society. One of 
special interest I presented to Mrs.Abram S.Hewit (a daughter 
of Peter Cooper), who had it framed and hung in the hall of 
Ringwood Manor, her country home. That letter, addressed to 
Richard Backhouse is so interestino- that I will read it as follows : 

Ringwood. Septemr. 7th. 1781. 
Sir: 

I have long wished to visit you but my worthy friend, I have been 
too much engaged. I must not trifle with you & in plain truth I have 
been hunting a wife. I am sure among all my numerous acquaintances 
there is not one that esteems me more than you do, and I love you with 
the genuine warmth of true friendship — You. then. Dear Sir, must be 
pleased when I tell you that I am engaged to Mrs. Erskine. a lady 
high in estimation for her good sense, affability and sweetness of Tem- 
per & blessed withall with a plentiful fortune. I assure you that I do 
on the most deliberate principles of honor think that comfort and 
felicity will attend the choice I have made. 

I am very anxious to see and converse with you on these important 
matters, which I cannot commit to writing, and if I can't see you next 
week I can't meet you this fall. If therefore this finds you at home I 
request you'll do me the favour to meet me at my house next Wednes- 
day or Thursday when I will be at home. I am sure you'll come if you 
can, the business will be short and I cannot come to you. 

******** 

My compliments wates on Mrs. Backhouse — accept my wishes for 
your prosperity and believe me, 

To Richard Backhouse, Esqr. Dr. Sir Yr Friend & Humble Sv. 

Durham R. L. Hooper, Jr. 

(His marriage license was issued October 31, 1781. — See N. J. 
Archives, Vol. 22. page 185.) 

The Marquis de Chastellux who stopped at Ringwood Furnace 
December 19, 1780, and called upon Mrs. Erskine. says: 

"I entered a very handsome house where everybody was in mourn- 
ing. Mr. Erskine being dead two months before. Mrs. Erskine his 
widow is about forty, and did not appear the less fresh or tranquil for 
her misfortune." 

Robert Erskine, whose charming widow Col. Hooper was to 



HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 25 

marry, was sent over from England by the London Company, in 
1771, to superintend their iron mines. He hes buried on the Ring- 
wood estate, which he was operating during the war. A marker 
erected by the Government contains this inscription : 

"In Memory of Robert Erskine, F. R. S. 

Geographer and Surveyor General to the Army of the 

United States. 

Son of Rev. Ralph Erskine, late Minister at Dunfermline, 

IN Scotland. 

Born September 7, 1735. Died October 2, 1780 

Aged 45 years and 25 days. 

This monument is an object of interest to the Hewitt family 
and their guests. One of the Hewitt boys is named Erskine in 
memory of this man. It is quite a coincidence that in after years 
Messrs. Cooper & Hewitt should, at the same time, own both 
Ringwood and Durham properties, both established in early Co- 
lonial times. A splendid biographical notice of Col. Hooper is 
contained in the Pouisylz'iDiia Magazine of History, Vol 36, p. 
60 ct seq. 

Another letter from Col. Hooper to his friend Col. Backhouse, 
refers to his purchase of a large tract of land in the Genesee 
country, the land of the Six Nations, on the Susquehanna River 
in New York, w^hich he called the "Land of Caanan." When 
motoring through that interesting section last summer, I was 
surprised to notice, on the road between Binghamton and Owego, 
an automobile tire advertisement containing the following: 

"When Binghamton was surveyed in 1786 by Col. Robert Lettis 
Hooper, Jr., lie lay in a canoe recording the distances from a pocket 
compass, working in this way through fear of being shot by unfriendly 
Indians." 

James Wilson, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, 
Simeon DeW^itt, Surveyor General of New York, and W'illiam 
Bingham, United States Senator, 1795 to 1801, were associated 
with Col. Hooper in these Genesee lands, which seem to have 
aggregated 30,620 acres, lying on both sides of the Susquehanna 
River. When the lands were partitioned, that part which was to 
become the site of Binghamton, N. Y., was apportioned to ^Mlliam 
Bingham, for whom that city was named. 



26 HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 

ROBERT TRAILL. 

Robert Traill was a leading and influential citizen of Easton, 
as one historian says, "in every respect, he was for many years 
everything to everybody." He was the ancestor of Dr. Edgar M. 
Green and his sister, Mrs. Dr. Charles Mclntyre, who is present 
with us here today. He was born in the Orkney Islands. Scot- 
land, April 29, 1744, emigrated to America in 1763, died at 
Easton July 31, 1816. In the early tax lists he is assessed as a 
shoemaker.^^ Later he was a school teacher; member of the 
Committee of Safety from Northampton County;^"' admitted to 
the bar of Northampton County in 1777; Justice of the Peace, 
1777-1781; Sherifif of Northampton County, 1781-1784; Repre- 
sentative in the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, 1785-86; 
member of the Supreme Executive Council, 1786-87; and an 
Associate Judge of Northampton County, 1790-92. His body 
lies buried in the Easton Cemetery. 

ROBERT LEVERS. 

Robert Levers, the other of Col. Taylor's executors, was a 
great and fearless patriot during the Revolutionary struggle. He 
came to America from England in April, 1748. He taught school 
for a time near Philadelphia, then associated himself with the 
Moravians. Was associated with Mr. C. Brockden, Recorder of 
Deeds at Philadelphia for three months. He writes "I then went 
about 35 miles in the country to be a clerk at an iron works, 
where I stayed about four months at £50 cy. a year." Still 
later he was in the ofifice of Richard Peters, whose partner he 
became in some land deals in Northampton County, making his 
home at Saylorsburg, where he also kept an hotel and store. He 
was appointed Prothonotary and Clerk of the Orphans Court 
for Northampton County, serving from 1777 to 1788. He was 
the authorized agent of the Supreme Executive Council for 
Easton and surrounding territory. On July 8. 1776, he gathered 
the people together, in Centre Square at Easton. by ringing the 
courthouse bell, and read to them, from the courthouse steps, the 
Declaration of Independence. Might it not be in order for this 

15 See "History of Northampton County," published in 1873, where at page 
73, a list of taxables is recorded. 

16 Robert Traill was clerk of the Committee of Safety for Northampton 
County ; see Pennsylvania Archives, Eighth Series, Vol V, p. 4. Dr. Edward 
M. Green has in his possession the original minutes kept by him. 



HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 27 

society or for the people of Easton, to place a monument to his 
memory in Centre Square? When the British were about to 
enter Philadelphia in 1777. and the capital of our new-born na- 
tion transferred to Lancaster, Pa., the money, books and papers 
of the Colonial Government were sent to him at Easton for 
safe keeping.^" He stored them in his bedroom on the sec- 
ond story of his house, which he rented from Conrad Ihrie. 
Sr., located on the east side of South Third Street. Robert 
Levers was in fact the local dictator of the new govern- 
ment, reporting all cases of disloyalty or seeming disloyalty. 
guarding the ferries over both rivers, and putting all suspects 
under arrest. It was his duty to see that the Oath of Allegiance 
was taken, particularly by former office holders. It was 
through him that Hon. John Penn, then Governor for the 
Proprietaries, former Lieutenant-Governor James Hamilton, 
Assemblyman James Allen and Chief Justice Benjamin Chew 
were put under parole. They were ordered by the Supreme Execu- 
tive Council to be "imprisoned and removed from the state." It ap- 
pears, however, that they were permitted to remain under parole 
at the home of James Allen at Allentown. Later several of them 
were removed to the Union Iron Works, near Clinton. N. J., 
owned by former Chief Justice William Allen and Joseph Turner. 
Robert Levers died at Easton May 20, 1788, while holding the 
position of Prothonotary. He left to survive him four children 
and a widow iicc Mary Church, who died in 1810. 

GEORGE TAYEOR's DEATH AND BURIAL. 

A letter in the archives of the Bucks County Historical So- 
ciety from Samuel Williams of Greenwich Forge, N. J., to 
Richard Backhouse at Durham, bearing date February 22. 1781. 
one day before George Taylor passed away, concludes as follows : 

I was up at Easton when your Boy was over Taking wheat to Mr. 
Taylor as he was always sending for money and I had none to give 
him. But poor Owld gentlemen I believe his Dunning is allmost at an 
End — I did not see him as he could not be Spoke with he has Been 
Tapt Twice the Doctor told me. 

As already stated he died at Easton, February 23. 1781. 
his body was laid at rest in the Lutheran churchyard across 

17 See many references in Colonial Records, Vols. XI, XII, XIV, and XV, 
also Pennsylvania Archives, First Series, Vols. V and VI. Also Pennsylvania 
Magazine of History, Vol. I, p. 137. 




GEORGE TAYLOR MONUMENT IN EASTON CEMETERY. 

Erected to his memory in 1854. On April 20, 1870, his body was remoyed 
from the yard of St. John's Lutheran Church, Easton, Pa., and re-interred 
immediately in front of this monument, which bears the following inscription: 



IN MEMORY OF 

GEORGE TAYLOR 

ONE OF THE SIGNERS 

OF THE DECLARATION OF 

AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. 

JULY 4, A. D. 1776. 

BORN 1716, DIED 1781. 



HOMES OF GEORGE TAYLOR 29 

the way, on the southeast corner of Fourth and Ferry Streets. 
When the Belvidere Delaware Railroad, now part of the Pennsyl- 
vania system, was extended to Phillipsburg in 1854, the event was 
celebrated on February 3d of that year, with a grand entertainment 
and reception by the citizens of Easton and Phillipsburg, for 
which a large amount of money had been subscribed. A special 
train of fifteen cars started from Philadelphia, carrying officials 
and guests from that city, and from Trenton and other points, 
which included the Governor of New Jersey and the heads of de- 
partments, and many other distinguished citizens. ^^ The money 
subscribed for that entertainment, which included a grand ball in 
the evening, was not all used, and at the suggestion of Judge 
James M. Porter, the balance was expended to erect, in the 
Easton Cemetery, that beautiful Italian marble monument to the 
memory of George Taylor. ^'^ His body, however, was allowed to 
remain in the Lutheran churchyard until the Easton school-board 
purchased that corner from St. John's Lutheran Church, when 
on April 20, 1870, it was removed to the Easton Cemetery and 
deposited in its last resting place on the east side of the monu- 
ment.-" The school-board still further honored his memory by 
naming that schoolhouse "The Taylor Building." 

I wish, for the sake of this patriotic Society, that I could arrive 
at a different conclusion, but the fact remains, and the preponder- 
ance of evidence shows, that George Taylor was a resident of 
Durham Township, in Bucks County, when on August 2, 1776, he 
affixed his signature to that immortal document the Declaration . 
of Independence. 

18 See Henry"s History of the Ijehigh Vallev, pp. 151 to 157. 

19 Recollections of B. F. Packenthal, Sr., Esq. (b. 1825, d. 1892). 

20 Official Records of the Easton Cemetery. 








Flint lock pistols which Georg-e Taylor bequeathed to Robert Traill. 
Now in possession of Dr. Edgar M. Green of Easton, Pa. 



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